O Christmas Tree....

Unfortunately, our lives are a little hectic every year as the Christmas season approaches, but this year our schedules are insane.  Between me working again, Jon having to work lots of overtime, the kids activities, and holiday events, there just isn't alot of spare time.  Every year I hope to slow down in November and December, focus on the true reason for the season, and cherish the memories and traditions we are making with our kids.  But every year we are over booked....  Anyway, decorating our Christmas tree will have to be done in phases this year, and tonight we are string the lights, adding the star, and throwing on enormous amounts of tinsel!  :)

It's Kate's turn to add the star to our beautiful tree this year!!

The boys did a fabulous job loading down the tree with silver tinsel.

Thanks Gabe & Grant for making our tree shine!

Turkey Time

 Even though we've already enjoyed Thanksgiving at my aunt's house, my mom always does a beautiful job of creating a second Thanksgiving meal just for our little family.  In all truth, our extended family is rather small too, but in my perfect world we all sit together at holidays, we dress in cute clothes, we give thanks to God, and we enjoy dinner.  Well, MY vision of perfection is not exactly the same vision of perfection shared by all (what is wrong with them  :) ) so my mom does her best to create the perfect mini Thanksgiving at her house.  The table setting was beautiful, the food delicious, and fun was had by all!

Time to break the wishbone....  Gabe actually decided it was too gross and let Kate & Grant have at it alone.

And the winner is.....GRANT!

Peeing in a Puddle

Nothing like being at the photographer's house and ending the session

with Grant peeing in a mud puddle..... Oh, this crazy child of mine!

Happy Birthday Laney Grace

This little girl will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Happy 5th Birthday Laney Grace!

LG's party theme was arm animals...if you couldn't tell...

and to celebrate she brought along some goes, a pig, a rabbit, and a pony!

Goodbye Flanagan Farm!

Days of Creation

It's time for our annual trip to the Christmas tree farm!

In my head I want this trip to mark the beginning of the season of magic and wonder.

But, in all honesty it is sometimes the beginning of the stress and expenses....

Nevertheless, I hope to enjoy every minute and cherish these times while the kids are still young.

One thing I really love about Days of Creation tree farm are the goats.  We look forward to feeding them every year.

Grant brought along a very old Barbie camera and I swear these goats actually posed for him!

Time to head out into the field of trees, but not before posing for a picture!

Of course Grant just wouldn't cooperate....

No time for pictures...there is one special tree to find!

I remember picking out our tree growing up with my parents, and I remember it being a perfect experience.

Of course, we often remember childhood events differently than how they actually happened,

but in my head it was a perfect day.  And there was one key difference between my experience then and now...I was an only child!  I got to pick out my favorite tree and that's the one we got!  Fast forward to our life today and we have three kids who of course never want the same style or size or even from the same section of the farm.  It's impossible to make them all happy!  Then when I end up picking MY favorite tree, it just makes them all mad.....we can never win!  Lol.  

Despite the challenges, there is always one tree that we all decide we like.  It may not be their "favorite," but there is no denying that it's perfect for our family.  And oh are we excited when an agreement has finally been made!

So let me be the first to present....Our 2015 Christmas Tree!

The kids all got down to help Jon with the saw...not an easy task!

I just loved the looks on the boys' faces!

And speaking of looks....

And there you have it!  Our tree has been cut down and is ready to come home!

Now that we have a tree, Grant agreed to a picture on the way out.

I hope my kids look back on these visits and remember them as being wonderful.

I want them to remember the magic of running through the tree farm until we found the just right tree.

Once back to the front of the farm it was time to shake the tree out

and bag it up for the journey home.

And last but not least...hot chocolate and a hayride!

It's getting late, so decorations must wait,

but tonight we will get it in place and cut her free!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving and without a doubt we have so much to be thankful for.

To begin, I am thankful for these three beautiful blessings.  I truly can't imagine a life without them.  Being a mom has been one of the most challenging yet most rewarding adventures I have ever been on.  I'm so thankful that God entrusted these three little lives to our hands.

And even though family can often drive us crazy, I am thankful for a wonderful extended family on both my side and Jon's.  We are blessed to both have parents who are still married and to have the unconditional love and support of so many.

Tonight we celebrated Thanksgiving at my aunt's house in Jacksonville.

It was a wonderful evening of yummy foods and great fellowship.

Thanksgiving at SMES

Sadly, 4th Grade doesn't celebrate holidays, but I am thankful to Dr. Trednick

that she does see the value in celebrating so 2nd grade had a mini party today!

These silly boys...and notice that Gabe can't take

his eyes off the video game for even one minute!

Harvest theme snack while watching a movie about the Mayflower.

Heading out of the school, we ran in to a couple of our favorite 1st graders:

Perry & Jack Jack.

My little (Yellow Apple) Turkeys

I'm blessed to get to teach this sweet bunch of turkeys.

Also thankful to work at a place that is far more a blessing than a job.

Happy Apple Thanksgiving

Holidays at Happy Apple are always the best!

Yesterday and today Grant got to celebrate Thanksgiving with Fall activities, fun, and of course a party!

Chief Grant is ready to get this party started!

We are so very thankful for Grant's amazing teacher, Mrs. Lori!

Thankful for so many sweet first friends....

My sweet boy singing songs of thanksgiving...